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Major League Baseball suspended Josh Beckett today for six games -- in essence, one start -- for his role in a benches-clearing dustup with the Los Angeles Angels Sunday. The league also fined Beckett an undisclosed amount for what they deemed was an intentional throw at Bobby Abreu's head and "aggressive actions" in the ensuing showdown between the teams, baseball's vice president of discipline Bob Watson said. Beckett will appeal, so any penalties will be delayed until after a hearing and he will likely be able to make his next start, scheduled for Saturday at home against Baltimore. The Red Sox are off Thursday, meaning they could skip Beckett and re-insert him without overly disrupting their rotation if he does not appeal.

"We were pretty shocked," Beckett said. "I think the appeal kind of speaks for everything that we feel."

Beckett said both aspects of the suspension -- his intent and actions afterward -- bothered him. "Absolutely. Obviously, I respect the job that they have to do. But I just donít agree."

Angels hitting coach Mickey Hatcher was suspended for one game and fined. Manager Mike Scioscia, center fielder Torii Hunter, and reliever Justin Speier were fined. Though those four were all ejected Sunday, Beckett was not.

"Did he throw it up and in? Yeah," umpire crew chief Joe West said Sunday. "Do we believe he threw it at Abreu? No. Would we have warned him had both benches not emptied? Probably not, but because both benches emptied, we did issue a warning."

After the game Sunday, Beckett maintained that the throw at Abreu was unintentional. Abreu had been granted timeout after Beckett's long pause while holding Chone Figgins on second base. Beckett had already begun his delivery, and he did not want to stop for fear of injury.

"I think every pitcher does," Beckett said. "Iíve seen guys that I play with, they throw balls to backstops. Itís just, itís what weíre taught to do. We have to kind of protect ourselves in those situations, and stopping is not a good way to do that. You can end your career on one bad slip or something like that."

So Beckett unleashed the ball. It sailed at Abreu's head, but unintentionally, the pitcher said.

"Like I said the other day, that ball could have ended up anywhere," Beckett said. "Itís unfortunate where it ended up. Thatís the only reason Iím standing here dealing with all this stuff. Weíll see where it goes from here. We donít agree. I respect the job everybody has to do. But we donít agree."

In the other clubhouse, Scioscia disagreed. He was upset not only with the pitch, but also Beckett's reaction. After Abreu raised his arms and stared at Beckett, Beckett marched aggressively toward Abreu.

"That was about as flagrant as anything I have seen in this game, and it's unfortunate," Scioscia said. "Usually the pitcher will show a little bit of remorse. We didn't see any of that from Beckett.

"There were some things that happened on the field that were disturbing and I feel the league has to look into it."

Beckett responded today.

"I donít really feel like I did anything. Itís unfortunate," Beckett said. "Iím not sure what Iím supposed to do. Am I supposed to go give him a hug? I wasnít really in a hugging mood right then. I donít really know what they wanted me to do.

"They made their own judgment on it. I had two umpires tell me that I handled it great. One of them publicly said that. The other one told me twice, once when I was coming off the mound and once right afterwards."

Re: Becketts Suspension

Re: Becketts Suspension

I don't mind the suspension so much. I agree with you, you can't assume that he threw it at Abreu's head. But Beckett's actions after the fact were embarrassing IMO. He should have just defused the situation and apologized instead of acting like a psychopath, which only escalated the problem. With the Angels being in the mental state that they're in to begin with, he should have been waaaaaaayyyyyyy less confrontational.

Re: Becketts Suspension

Maybe I've shared this story before, but a business associate played in the minors for the Reds back in the 50's (same time as my friend I mention occasionally). The Reds minor leaguers back then trained in Texas, El Paso I think. Johnny Vander Meer was running the camp that season. This guy was a shortstop and in trying to turn a double play, he threw the ball away avoiding the runner coming in standing up. Vandy ripped him a new one, in the colorful language he was wont to use and told him that the next time he's to aim the ball right through the guys head and he'll get down. Sure enough in the second game, same thing happens. Ken throws straight through and bam, hits the guy square, knocks him flat and the ball goes flying in the air. Different times, no?

ďIn the same way that a baseball season never really begins, it never really ends either.Ē - Lonnie Wheeler, "Bleachers, A Summer in Wrigley Field"

Re: Becketts Suspension

Originally Posted by fearofpopvol1

My thoughts exactly.

It sounds a lot harsher than it actually is.

Not that I think Beckett should be suspended, but I really think SP suspensions should have more weight. instead of a 6 game suspension, make it a 3 start suspension. Make the rule so that there is no ambiguity. no getting around it with starting a reliever in inning 1 then letting the SP come in for a 7 inning relief stint.

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